A video from China’s Jiangsu Province has gone viral. It shows a man riding a modified e-bike powered by his golden retriever.
The clip, filmed by another rider on March 16, shows the dog running under the bike’s seat. The animal has a muzzle and is held by a rein. The man is also seen holding a stick, which he appears to have used to whip the animal, according to the South China Morning Post.
The video caused widespread outrage on the Internet. Many viewers accused the man of animal cruelty.
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Local traffic police tracked down the man and stopped him. However, due to his age, he was only given a recommendation and education in this matter.
The action was taken under a regulation that prohibits illegally modified vehicles on public roads. No action was taken violation of animal welfare conditions.
China currently has no animal welfare law to protect pets from mistreatment. The country’s Road Safety Act also does not address the use of pets on the roads.
It is not known if the dog suffered any injuries, according to SCMP. The man’s identity has not been released, according to the publication.
The viral video sparked a heated debate on the Internet. Many viewers were upset at the dog’s condition, with one user writing: “I feel sorry for the dog who became his pet.”
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Another raised concerns about the muzzle. According to the user, the dog will struggle with proper breathing while running.
Others questioned the safety of the modified vehicle itself. “How is he supposed to stop the vehicle?” one user asked.
Another user warned that the man could lose control and endanger himself and other road users.
Some users also brought up the old Chinese folk saying, “Riding a dog would lead to a worn crotch, and riding a cat would lead to rotten eyes”.
This saying is traditionally used by elders in the countryside. It discourages children from mishandling pets or stray animals.
Animal Cruelty Laws in China
China has laws governing the treatment of animals. However, protection of animal welfare remains weak, especially for pets and livestock.
China has had a national animal welfare law since 1988. However, it is not widely recognized, according to the National Library of Medicine.
There are standards for livestock housing, transport, slaughter and disease control. It includes species such as pigs, poultry, cattle and sheep.
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However, the Chinese government does not consider animal welfare important enough to warrant strong legislative oversight. It is a big contrast to the European Union.
Crucially, China has no specific law to protect pets from abuse. The very concept of animal welfare is relatively new in the country.
Most people in China still don’t know the concept of “animal welfare”. There is no direct translation of this term from English to Mandarin.
However, after The COVID-19 pandemic saw the Chinese government pass legislation in 2019 banning the consumption of wild animals. It also passed a law in 2016 banning cruel hunting methods, including poisons, explosives, snares and leg traps.
